NHPA Team

Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP | President: Dr. Rios, a distinguished Medical Doctor with a Master’s of Science in Public Health, Master of the American College of Physicians, has received multiple national and international awards for her outstanding contributions to health equity. Dr. Rios started her career in 1992 as a policy advisor for the State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development; in 1993 for the White House Health Care Reform Team, where she met physicians to establish the NHMA and NHHF; and in 1994 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. After 30 years of dedicated service part-time at NHMA and NHHF, shaping their mission and impact, Dr. Rios is now focusing all her efforts on leading NHHF's initiatives. She started the Hispanic Physician Leadership Fellowship that has resulted in hundreds of Hispanic physician leaders serving in the public and private sectors. Rios earned her BA from Stanford University, MSPH and MD from UCLA School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency from Santa Clara and White Memorial Hospitals, and her NIH NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship from UCLA Department of Medicine.

Guillermo Mendoza, JD, LLM | Associate Director of NHHF Programs: Guillermo is a dedicated advocate for health equity, leveraging his academic background to champion access to healthcare for underserved communities. With a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Global Health Law from Georgetown University Law Center, a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Hamline University School of Law, and a Bachelor's degree in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Minnesota, he combines legal expertise with a deep understanding of healthcare systems. Guillermo remains dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of underserved populations, embodying a steadfast commitment to social justice and equitable access to healthcare services.

Lilian Martinez-Orellana | Programs Coordinator: Lilian is a dedicated public health professional with a deep passion for advancing health equity in the Latino community. Lilian is coordinating the National Center for Hispanic Health Research clinical trial diversity and National Hispanic Pharmacists Association activities. She has a BS in Public Health and Human Services and Social Justice from The George Washington University. She launched "The Luchadora Project," a social media campaign designed to raise awareness about the unique challenges Latinas face when battling cancer. 

To contact NHPA Headquarters for all inquiries (e.g., requests for meetings, speaking engagements, partnerships, etc.), please email [email protected] or call (202) 800-2676